Saturday, November 3, 2007

Pakistan's beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday night imposed a state of emergency in the wake of a rapid deterioration in the security situation and growing uncertainty over his position in the face of a legal challenge to his re-election in uniform.

An eight-member Supreme Court immediately set aside the Presidential order declaring Emergency amid reports that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who has been at loggerheads with Musharraf, has been asked to go.

All land and mobile telephone services were suspended and several private TV channels were taken off air.

After days of speculation about the General resorting to "supra-constitutional measures", the military ruler issued a "provisional constitutional order" imposing emergency rule in the country.

"The chief of army staff (Musharraf) has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," the state-run Pakistan TV said.

Security forces were deployed in the capital and other parts of the country.

All land and mobile telephone services were suspended and several private TV channels were taken off air.

After days of speculation about the General resorting to "supra-constitutional measures", the military ruler issued a "provisional constitutional order" imposing emergency rule in the country.

"The chief of army staff (Musharraf) has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," the state-run Pakistan TV said.

Security forces were deployed in the capital and other parts of the country.